The Cowboys have already solved one big piece of their backfield puzzle, but the depth behind Javonte Williams still looks shaky enough to keep the front office searching.
Williams was a major success story for Dallas last season, piling up 1,201 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns after arriving in free agency. The team made sure that wasn’t a one-year fling, bringing him back on a three-year, $24 million deal. That gives Dallas a proven lead back again, but it also leaves a clear question hanging over 2026: who handles the load if Williams needs help?
Right now, Jaydon Blue is next up on the depth chart, though he still hasn’t shown he’s clearly better than Malik Davis. Phil Mafah is also in the mix, but injuries have kept him from getting much traction, first in his rookie year and then again in year two. Add in the fumbling problems Blue has dealt with during camp, and it’s easy to see why Dallas could use another body in that room.
One name that has surfaced is Tyjae Spears. Sleeper Cowboys recently pointed to the Titans running back as a possible trade target, noting that he’s heading into the final year of his rookie contract and could end up behind Tony Pollard and rookie Nick Singleton.
Spears has done enough in the league to look like a useful option. The former third-round pick from Tulane entered the NFL in 2023 and has totaled 1,048 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He’s also contributed as a receiver, catching 127 passes for 873 yards and two touchdowns.
That doesn’t mean a deal is imminent. Spears’ availability is still just speculation. But if Dallas wants to keep Williams from carrying too much of the offense again, it makes sense to at least make the call and see whether Tennessee is listening.
Jerry Jones has already shown a willingness to chase upgrades. Dallas has made a couple of notable trades this year, first landing outside linebacker Rashan Gary and then pulling off a draft-day deal for inside linebacker Dee Winters. With the running back depth still unsettled, another move would fit the pattern.
And even if Spears never becomes realistic, the Cowboys ought to keep shopping. If the goal is to give Williams a more dependable partner, the work isn’t done yet.
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Titans Running Backs Just Got The Disrespect Fans Will Remember
The Titans backfield looks set up for another season built around Tony Pollard, with Tyjae Spears positioned as the primary insurance policy and rookie Nicholas Singleton giving Tennessee a third option in the room. It is a group that still carries some intrigue because of how the offense could lean on the ground game if the passing attack has a hard time finding consistency.
Still, Pro Football Focus preseason ranking landed the Titans running back room at 22nd, a label that will not sit well with a fan base that expects more from one of the leagues most important position groups. The number itself is only part of the story, because Tennessees backs are going to matter plenty if the offense needs them to shoulder a bigger load than the outside perception suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Roster Shakeup Puts Unexpected Focus On Their Defensive Depth
The Titans kept their roster moving this week, adding veteran defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler after recent workouts while also making a change at tight end by releasing Matt Lauter. The pair of defensive signings fits the kind of late-summer roster churn that often reveals where a team thinks it needs more insulation, especially when injuries and availability start to reshape the back end of the roster.
Nazeeh Johnsons move to injured reserve adds another wrinkle for Tennessee, coming shortly after he was suspended for six games for violating the NFLs Performance Enhancing Substances policy. With Johnson unavailable and the Titans bringing in players who have already bounced around the league, the emphasis now shifts to how much reliable depth they can build on defense before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Add Two Defenders As One New Arrival Suddenly Stands Out
With a joint practice against the Seahawks on deck and another game looming, the Titans are continuing to churn the bottom of the roster while trying to keep the defensive depth chart stable. Tennessee placed safety Nazeeh Johnson on Reserve/Injured after his six-game suspension for violating the NFLs Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, then opened the spot by releasing tight end Matt Lauter and bringing in defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler.
The two additions give the Titans some extra bodies on defense at a time when preseason reps matter, and Kpassagnon in particular is a name that immediately jumps off the page among the newcomers. With the roster still in flux this close to the Seattle week, the more interesting question is how quickly Tennessee can sort out which of these fresh faces is simply filling space and which one might force his way into a larger role. [Read more 🡒]